The Prison Camp and the Community

Uneasy Neighbors: The Elmira Prison Camp and the Community

Since only civilians with official business were allowed into the prison camp, public opinion was that nothing was wrong within the camp. This view was re-enforced by newspaper articles and reports from camp officials. Contracts for providing supplies to the camp were given to locals while others found employment as clerks, lawyers and general laborers. Local groups and individuals donated clothing, reading materials for the camp library and supplies to the camp school. The camp even turned into an attraction with people gathering daily around the main gates hoping for a glimpse inside.

Elmira Prison Camp, April 15, 1865 Ausburn Towner described the view of the camp from the observation tower: "It was like looking down into an immense bee-hive. There was a constant motion on all sides….some men had built a fire underneath a tree and were baking cornmeal cakes…. In the corner close at hand was a large tent that had a very lonesome look. Into it during the half hour of the visit, came two men five times, bearing each time on a stretcher the dead body of a man covered with a piece of canvas.	Thomas K. Beecher Local clergyman, like Thomas K. Beecher, took turns conducting Sunday services within the prison camp.
Observation Tower For ten to fifteen cents people could view the interior of the camp from two observation decks. Located directly across from the camp on Water Street, the observation decks were only opened for a few weeks before the military closed them.	Prison Camp trade card In between the observation decks refreshment stands sold ginger cakes, lemonade, peanuts and souvenir cards. Not allowed inside the camp, the public had to be content with buying trade cards of the prison camp and jewelry made by the prisoners.
Reverse of Prison Camp trade card	Carved bone bracelet During their spare time, some prisoners would carve bone into jewelry or other small items such as toothpicks and thimbles. Guards would also bring materials such as beads in to the prisoners and then sell the finished jewelry outside of the prison camp.
Carved bone needle case with two removable ends made by a Confederate prisoner	Carved bone thimble made by a Confederate prisoner
Toothpick carved from bone made by a Confederate prisoner	Watch chain made of woven straw made by a Confederate prisoner
Prison dead house In the summer of 1865 the prison camp was dismantled and everything was sold. Buildings, like the prison dead house, were converted into barns, homes and other private buildings.	Piece of wood from dead house at the prison camp

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Confederate Prison Camp

Uneasy Neighbors: The Elmira Prison Camp and the Community

Elmira Prison Camp, April 15, 1865

Thomas K. Beecher

Local clergyman, like Thomas K. Beecher, took turns conducting Sunday services within the prison camp.

Observation Tower

For ten to fifteen cents people could view the interior of the camp from two observation decks. Located directly across from the camp on Water Street, the observation decks were only opened for a few weeks before the military closed them.

Prison Camp trade card

In between the observation decks refreshment stands sold ginger cakes, lemonade, peanuts and souvenir cards. Not allowed inside the camp, the public had to be content with buying trade cards of the prison camp and jewelry made by the prisoners.

Reverse of Prison Camp trade card

Carved bone bracelet

During their spare time, some prisoners would carve bone into jewelry or other small items such as toothpicks and thimbles. Guards would also bring materials such as beads in to the prisoners and then sell the finished jewelry outside of the prison camp.

Carved bone needle case with two removable ends made by a Confederate prisoner

Carved bone thimble made by a Confederate prisoner

Toothpick carved from bone made by a Confederate prisoner

Watch chain made of woven straw made by a Confederate prisoner

Prison dead house

In the summer of 1865 the prison camp was dismantled and everything was sold. Buildings, like the prison dead house, were converted into barns, homes and other private buildings.

Piece of wood from dead house at the prison camp